Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-02-09


POLICY, AND THE WRECK IT MADE OF HIS
PEACE AND HAPPINESS.
When the life insurance agent cornered
jones out in the corn-field the other day and
persuaded him that S., 900 policy was just
what he needed, in order that his friends
might reverence his memory, there was not
a man in the State whe was On better tel ms
with the world in general than was Simon
Jones.
But the agent had not been gone an hour
before every thing seemed changed. Not
that any of his friends or family had ever
intimated that SUM of that kind would
help assuage their poignant grief when he
Jones could not Danish the growing idea
that it would be fine thing to have five
Thousand dollars in clear cash. He had
taken out the policy in his wife's faver, of
course, for he would have told you an hour
ago that sneh women as Sally jones were
mighty scarce. But now it seemed to him
all at once that it would bs rather unfair for
Sally to te cavsrtin' round with all that
money while he moldered away quite for
gotten by them all. To be sure he was
strong and healthy-not better man in the
county, twas said-but, then, Sally was
strong, toe; she would be sure to out-live
him-sure to get that five thousand dollars
and be a dashing young widow like Simon
had seen and always detested.
Sally was not very stylish or dashiDg at
present, certainly. Simsn could see her
from where he was at work, hanging out
the weekly wash, with a screaming baby
under one arm. But, then, who knew how
much style Sally might develop if invested
with such magnificent sum I'd five thou
sand dollars?
He unhitched his horses and drove slow
ly to the house, with a growing conviction
that he was not lsng for this world. His
solemn face at dinner called forth remark
frem the kins-hesrted Sally, and then it
came out about the policy Simon had taken
that morning. Sally was delighted. Give
Thousand dollars" she said, smiling ints
Simon's gloomy face. "That would be a
nice sum for me and the children in case
you should be taken away; nothing like pro-
viding for rainy day"
"You wouldn't git it unless died." snap
ped the irritated Simon.
Course not, which hope won't be for a
long time yet" replied Sally; ''but still it's
good thing. Now. there was Lee Barnes
who died, an his insurance was two thou
sand, an whatever Mary would a-done with
out that money ia mere"-
''If you thiak I'm such weak shake
down as Lee Barnes, you're greatly mistak-
en-" interrupted Simon, angrily. ''Ae new
er was no count, an his wife was a-fiantin
'reun' tryin ito git married agin fore he'd
been dead six months. Don't hold up them
Barnes for no pattern to mep'
Sally was stonished at this eutburst
from the generally good natured Simon.
81 never said you was like Lee Barnes, :"
she retorted, 81 said he left his wife two
Thousand dollars insurance when he died,
and he did, teo"
"Well, who cares if he did?' cried Simon,
angrily rising and leaving the kitchen in a
huff He was convinced at once that Sally
would much prefer that five thousand dol
lars to him, alive.
That's the. way with women" he NUT
tered. "All they think of is money; and
I've always been good husband. Nobody
can't say haven't"
The fact that Sally nor any one else had
ever disputed this fact did not occur to the
misguided Simon, who went about his work
moody and silent, his mind filled with bit
terness toward every one.
Sally maryeled some over Simon's queer
behavior, but finally concluded something
had worried him, the horses may be, one
of them was rather inclined to balk, he
But supper time brought no change, nor
the next day, ner the next, and Sally's
questions only seemed to anger him.
care you sick, Simon?" she inquired, ten
DERBY; 'or have you hserd bad news?-
Somethin's botherin' you; what is it2''
II tell you there amt nethin' the mat
ter" replied Simon, sullenly, sitting down
in chair in which one of the children had
just upset cup of water. He sprapg to
his feet 80 suddenly that Sally, understand
Jag the cause, laughed long and loud
At another time Simon would have Joined
in this harmless mirth, but now. consider
ing himself in the light Of martyr, he
only gazed contemptususly upon the irrev-
crent Sally, who still giggled behind her
Bingham apron.
"Oh! you can laugh" he snesred; you've
nothin' to trouble you, and when I'm gone
you're ssfe.''
"Where you goin'. Simon?' cried Sally,
eagerly, forgetting her laughter and failing
to see the significance of this cutting re-
mark. That Simon standing there before
her was seriously talking of dying never
occurred to her. 'sWhere yeu goin' Simon?''
she reiterated. 'Cause if you're goin'
down to Snyder's, promised Maria some
OF them croeked-necked squashes cut in tie
lot, an you can take ZEN over if
Simon waited to hear no more, but fang
himself OFF, muttering: Hang the women,
any how; none of EN- got bit of sense'
So for more than week things went on
in this cross grained way. Nothing pleased
Simon any more, his appetite failed, and
he scowed SO continually that it seemed
doubtful if his face ever would straighten
out again. His one thought was of that
five-thousand-dollar policy and the pleasure
it would bring to others when he could take
no part in it,
Sally at last began to see the reason of
Simen's strange mood, but she wisely kept
her Own counsel. A plan formed itself in
her mind. however, plan over which she
often smiled when about her work. Now
the pollcy had not arrived yet, but would
in few days.
Accordingly, one morning as Sally was
busily churning on the porch while Simon
sat whiting in detected silence beside her,
buggy stopped at the gate, and from it
alignted spruce young man whom Simon
instantly recognized as the insurance agent
He came briskly up to the porch. 'sGot d
morning, Mr.. Jones! Fine morning, this:
have brought you your policy; it is ali
complete with this exception, as il is in
favor of your wife, here" bowling to Mrs.
Jones, who had stopped churning, sit will
be necessary for her to sign it (here pro
duces pen and ink. "Will you, my good
woman, be SO kind as to afflx your name ?''
Now Sally resented being called ''my
good woman" in that manner she hated
agents generally and this one in particular,
for hadn't Simon acted like all possessed
ever since he came bothering round. Here
was the opportunity she craved.
Taking the policy which the agent ex
tended, she unfolded and glanced at it's
contents.
$50 this is my husbands life insurance."
Eyes, m am
:. .'And it's for five thousand dollars, amt
yes, IN ann
s'In my favor?''